Anthony Gordon says Barcelona’s depth makes them difficult to stop

Anthony Gordon says Barcelona’s wide range of attacking options has made them a difficult team to contain during his first months at the club.

The England winger joined Barcelona in the summer transfer window and has spoken to the club’s media about their strong start to the season, with particular praise for the variety available to manager Hans Flick in the final third.

“I’m very happy. We know exactly what we are capable of achieving, and I think it will be very difficult to stop us from scoring,” Gordon said, as quoted by Catalan newspaper Sport.

Gordon believes Barcelona’s ability to respond to different situations during matches is one of their greatest strengths.

“The main advantage of this team is our ability to find a solution to whatever situation we face during a game,” he said. “Whatever the opposition does, I’m confident we can find the right answer.”

He highlighted the contrasting qualities within the squad, including the different styles of Fermin Lopez and Dani Olmo, who can both operate as playmakers.

“We have a lot of different qualities,” Gordon added. “We have two players who play as number 10s, Fermin Lopez and Dani Olmo, and they are both completely different.

“Lamine can play anywhere, Raphinha offers another type of performance, and then there is Karim and me. We also have a varied group of midfielders, which gives us the ability to break through any defence.”

Barcelona’s squad depth has been particularly important after several prominent players left during the summer. Gordon said the departures had not weakened the team’s overall strength.

“I know some big players have left, such as Ferran, Rashford and Lewandowski, but good players have also been brought in,” he said. “Now we genuinely feel like a complete team.”

The winger also stressed that Barcelona’s threat does not come only from their forwards. Their left-back Xavi Espart scored in the previous match, an example Gordon believes makes the side even harder to defend against.

“As I said, goals can come from any position,” he said. “Our left-back, Xavi Espart, scored in the last game. When that happens, it makes the team much more dangerous.”

Even Gordon admits Barcelona’s attacking start has surpassed his expectations. Although he expected the side to win every match, he did not anticipate them scoring five goals.

“I expected us to win every game, but perhaps I did not expect five goals, so I have to admit I did not see that coming,” he said. “We have made an amazing start to the season. If I said I expected us to score five goals in this number of matches, I would not be honest.”

Gordon also explained how the intensity of training has prepared him for competitive matches.

“For me, training is what gets you ready for games,” he said. “When you train hard, the match itself becomes much easier because you face the best players in training and experience that high intensity.

“You have to defend and attack, along with all the responsibilities that brings. When the game arrives, the opposition does not have players of the same level.”

Despite Barcelona’s impressive beginning, Gordon said the squad remained focused on the immediate tasks, with two difficult matches to come before the break.

“It is important not to get ahead of ourselves or think too far into the future,” he said. “We have two tough games before the break, and we have to focus on the first one.”

Gordon believes that discipline has helped Barcelona make such a strong start.

“That is why I think we have been successful so far,” he said. “We have not become complacent. We have not taken opponents lightly and have imposed our dominance. We have to continue in the same way.”